Electric self-starter for internal-combustion engines



Jan. 26 1-926. 1,570,810

R. H. WHISLER ELECTRIC SELF STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PEA.

I'NVE-NTUYI by WW, MA zw ggg Jan. 26 1926. 1,570,810

R. H. WHLSLER I ELECTRIC SELF STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-3 Patented Jan. 25, 192%.

UNITED STATES RALPH H. WHISLER, OF HALFWAY,

PATENT OFFICE.

EEGHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ESSEX MOTORS, OF DE- TROI'I', MICHIGAN, A CORIORA'IION OF MICHIGAN.

Application filed June 13, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH H. VVHISLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Halfway, county of Macomb, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Self-Starters Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object an improvement in electric self-starters for internal combustion engines, the particular object of the invention being to provide means by which the pinion driven by the self-starter motor can be caused to engage with the flywheel or other gear easily and without damage either to the gear or to the pinion. My invention provides means by which the pinion will be rotated through a small angle whenever the starter pedal is depressed, this movement occurring while the pinion is being slid toward the face of the flywheel gear and before its engagement with the flywheel gear.

The most satisfactory embodiment of my invention consists in applying to the shaft of the self-starter motor an armature connected thereto by a small roll clutch so that movement of the armature in one direction will rotate the shaft, although the shaftis free to rotate in the same direction without moving the armature The armature is act ed upon by a fixed electro-magnet which is energized by a circuit which is closed by the first movement of the starter pedal, the further movement of which closes the main circuit through the armature of the start ing motor.

The device embodying my invention, therefore, operates first to close the switch through the electro-magnet, thereby rotating the self-starter motor shaft through a small angle, then to mesh the pinion with the gear and finally, when the pinion is fully meshed to close the main circuit through the self-starter motor.

While the electrically operated combination of parts shown in the drawings constitutes the best embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to this combination nor even to the electric operation of the Serial No. 477,084.

parts, since it will be apparent from the claims appended hereto that my invention consists broadly in the combination with the starting pedal and the pinion of a selfstarter mechanism, of devices set in operation by the pedal for changing the position of the pinion relatively to that of the flywheel gear. Furthermore, I have used the word pedal to designate a lever or rockshaft by which the movement of the selfstarter devices is initiated, but I do not limit myself to a foot-operated device.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view, partly diagrammatic, showing an electric self-starter, a portion of the flywheel, a pinion and operating mechanism for the switches embodying my invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the armature and magnet.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in the second position with the magnet circuit closed.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in the'third position with the switch of the main circuit through the starting motor closed.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the electro-mag nets and armature one of the parts of which are in the position shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, at ll is shown a portion of a flywheel gear of an internal combustion engine. At 12 is shown a pinion slidable on the shaft 13 of the selfstarter motor 14, the end of the said shaft 13 being splined. The armature of the self- At. :20 is shown a self-starter pedal pivoted at 21 and forked at its lower end, as shown at 22, for engagement with the pin 23 on one end of a sliding switch rod 2%. This sliding switch rod 2 L carries a fork 25 which engages with the collar 26 on the pinion hub 12. It also carries the movable member a of the switch 27, the stationary member being designated 6. The stationary member 6 is connected by a wire 28 with the commutator brush 17, and the switch rod 24 is grounded, as shown at 29, so that when the two halves of the switch are in contact with each other, the circuit is closed through the starting motor.

The switch rod 2-1 also carries the movable member 0 of another switch 30 which, for convenience, I call the magnet switch, the other member of the switch being designated cl.

Secured to the end of the main shaft 13 of the starting motor is a cam 31 forming part of a roll clutch. This cam cooperates with rolls 32 and a clutch ing 33 on the exterior of which are formed two members 352 and 35 which act as armatures to co-operate with an electro-magnet, the pole pieces of which are designated 36 and 37 and are carried by a stationary ring 38 secured within the casing 14 of the self-starter motor. The pole pieces 36 and 37 of the electro-magnet are energized by windings 39 which are in circuit with the stationary member (Z of the magnet switch and with the windings of the pole pieces 19 of the starting motor.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device will be readily under stood. In inoperative position, the parts are as shown in Figure 1. When it is desired to start the engine, the operator moves the pedal 20, This slides the switch rod 2% to the left, as shown in Figure 1, until it reaches the position shown in Figure 3. At this time, the members of the electro-magnet switch are in contact with each other, closing the circuit through the electro-magnet windings 36 and 37, but the main switch 27 has not closed. The electro-magnets attract the armature 34 and rotate the ring 33 to the position shown in Figure 5 The movement of the armature acting through the roll clutch turns the self-starter shaft 13 and the pinion 12 changing somewhat the position of the teeth relatively to the teeth of the flywheel gear. Further movement of the selfstarter pedal 20 pushes the pinion into engagement with the flywheel teeth if the pinion and flywheel are in such position as to permit the meshing of the teeth. however, the ends of the teeth strike and prevent meshing of the pinion with the flywheel, the pedal can be released and the parts will then be restored to the position shownin Figure 1, except that the rotating parts of the self starter motor including the shaft 13, the armature 15, the commutator 16 and the pinion 12 will remain in the position to which they were moved by, the rotation of the ture The self-starter pedal is then moved again, and his o a e haft 1 and attached parts a second time through a small angle so that further movement of the switch rod 2% will cause the pinion and flywheel to mesh with each other. Just before the pinion is completely in mesh, the main switch 2'? closes, completing the circuit through the starting motor, and the rotation of the motor begins.

By making the angle through which the main shaft is moved by the electro-magnet such that it is not a multiple of the angle occupied by a single tooth of the pinion, the pinion teeth are certain to be brought opposite to the spaces between the teeth in the flywheel by the second or third movement'of the starter pedal if, on the first movement, they collided with the sides of the teeth of the flywheel.

What I claim is 1. In combination with an electric self starter motor, a gear, a pinion, pedal-operated means for causing the pinion to engage the gear and to close the circuit through the electric motor and electric means operated by said pedal-operated means for turning the pinion relatively to the gear.

2. In combination with a. gear, a pinion to mesh therewith, an electric starter motor, a starter pedal to close the circuit through the motor and to move the pinion into engagement with the gear and electric means actuated by the pedal to rotate the pinion independently of the starter motor before the circuit through the motor is closed.

3. In combination, a flywheel gear, a slidable pinion to mesh therewith, a pinion shaft means to rotate the same to turn the flywheel when said pinion is in mesh with said gear, an armature on the pinion shaft, an clectro-magnet co-operating with the armature, and means for energizing the magnet to cause it to revolve the pinion shaft and pinion relatively to the flywheel gear.

4. In con'ibination with a gear, a slidablc pinion to mesh therewith, a pinion shaft, means to rotate the same to turn said gear when said pinion is in mesh therewith, an armature, and an electro-mag'net, one actin on the pinion shaft and the a or being tionary, and means for energizing the magnet- ;0 cause the pii'iion shaft to rotate said pinion and cause the teeth thereof to i'egis ter with the teeth of the gear 5. In combination, a flywheel gear, a slidable pinion to mesh therewith, a pinion shaft, means to rotate the same to turn said gear when said pinion is in mesh therewith. an armature and an electro-niagnet for said pinion shaft, a clutch connecting one of said. members with the pinion shaft to permit rotation in one direction only, and means for energizing the magnet to cause it to move the pinion shaft and pinion angularly with respect to the flywheel gear.

' 6.- ln combination with an electric selfstarter motor, a motor shaft, a gear, a pinion on said motor shaft movable into and out of engagement with said gear, a pedal, means actuated by the pedal. for causing the pinion to engage the gear and to close the circuit through the starting motor, and means rendered operative by initial movement of the pedal actuated means, and including a roll clutch, whereby the pinion may be positively turned into a succession of different angular positions with resgect to the gear.

'5. In combination, a flywheel gear, a slidable pinion to mesh therewith, a pinion haft, means to rotate the same to turn said ear when said pinion is in mesh therewith, in armature and an electro-magnet for said pinion shaft, a roll clittch connecting one of said members with the pinion haft to permit rotation in one direction only and n'ieans for energizing the magnet to cause it to move the pinion shaft and pinion relatirelj to the flywheel.

In combination with an electric selfstarter and the starting pedal therefor, of a gear, a slidable pinion to mesh therewith, a pinion shaft, an armature and an electromagnet one of which is on the pinion shaft, means for energiziiw the magnet to cause the pinion shaft to rotate to register with the teeth of the gear, and a switch ogerated by the initial moron'ient of the starter pedal to complete the circuit through the electromagnet.

9. In combination with a gear, a slidable 1 rich to mesh therewith, an electric motor having a shaft for operating said pinion an armature on the electric motor shaft, a roll clutch connecting said armature with the shaft, an electro-magnet and means for energizing the magnet to cause it to more the armature and motor shaft and thereby turn the pinion preparatory to meshing the latter with the gear.

10. in combination, a gear, a slidable pinion to mesh therewith, an electric motor having a shaft for operating said pinion, an armature on said shaft, disen 'ageable means connecting the armature and said shaft, an electro-magnet co-operating with the armature to turn the same a switch shaft and two switches, one in the circuit of the starting motor and the other in the circuit of the magnet, said parts being ar ranged so that the first movement of the pedal shaft closes the magnet switch and further movement closes the switch in the "actor circuit.

In testimony whereof I aiiix mv sienature.

RALPH H. WHISLER 

